At the age of 61, Ni Xiaolian, a Chinese table tennis player from Shanghai who now resides in Luxembourg, received a special gift from singer Jacky Cheung on October 10th. Cheung sent her an invitation to his concert in Shanghai, along with a signed poster, a signed hat, a T-shirt, and a canvas bag. Overwhelmed with excitement, Ni Xiaolian exclaimed, “I’m so happy, it feels like a dream come true!”
On August 2nd, Jacky Cheung paid tribute to Ni Xiaolian during his concert in Hangzhou. He imitated Ni Xiaolian’s movements on the table tennis court at the Paris Olympics and expressed, “I saw a 61-year-old athlete at the Olympics, her gracefulness, that feeling is really great. I’m two years older than her, and I really think it’s worth learning from her.”
Many were impressed by the match between 61-year-old Ni Xiaolian and 23-year-old Chinese player Sun Yingsha at the Paris Olympics. In the match dubbed as “World No. 1 vs. World’s Only One,” Ni Xiaolian lost 0-4 to Sun Yingsha, failing to advance to the round of 16. However, her swift turn and hit move during the game has been widely praised by fans as “elegant turn,” as she displayed a carefree attitude towards the outcome of the game and focused on enjoying the playing process.
On August 5th, during a live broadcast, Ni Xiaolian was asked about Jacky Cheung imitating her turning move at his concert. She said, “I’m also very happy, Jacky Cheung is my idol, I think his jump is more graceful than mine.”
Ni Xiaolian expressed her gratitude to Jacky Cheung for his attention and recognition, saying, “Seeing him still holding concerts, I’m touched, we are both in our 60s, both people striving for our dreams.” She also mentioned her desire to invite Jacky Cheung to watch a table tennis match and her excitement about attending his concert.
Born in Shanghai in 1963, Ni Xiaolian was selected for the Chinese table tennis team in 1979. In 1983, at the 37th World Table Tennis Championships held in Tokyo, Ni Xiaolian won the women’s team championship with her teammates and also won the mixed doubles championship with partner Guo Yuehua. After retiring from the Chinese team in 1991, Ni Xiaolian settled in Luxembourg and began representing Luxembourg in competitions, winning the European Championships during her career and remaining active in international table tennis.
On March 22nd of this year, Ni Xiaolian defeated South Korean player Heo Hyeon in the WTT Contender event in Beirut to claim the women’s singles title, making her the oldest champion in WTT history. During the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this year, Ni Xiaolian served as the flag bearer for the Luxembourg sports delegation.
On October 8th, Ni Xiaolian returned to Shanghai for a visit. Having participated in six Olympic Games, she shared her secret to staying in good shape, saying, “For me, table tennis is not only my career focus, but also a source of happiness.” Whether winning or losing, she celebrates like a child or gracefully accepts defeat, demonstrating that for her, table tennis is not just a sport but a way of life filled with joy.